Back to School Means Back to Blogging

Weeelllll helloo there! (said in Mrs. Doubtfire's most excited voice! (RIP Robin Williams).

It goes without saying that this space has been dead as a door nail for the past year and half or so. With Grace starting kindergarten last year I really wanted to soak up my time with her and Charlotte. It was time well spent and I don't regret it for a second. I DO wish I'd been able to write down a snippet here or there - just for my memory's sake - I seriously can't remember a thing unless I write it down, but alas, I didn't. I only have the 10,000 photos locked away in my phone to trigger my memories which will have to suffice.

Now that Grace is in first grade (um, how did that happen?) and Charlotte is in pre-kinder (which is crazy because I feel like she is ready ready for college but for the fact she can't read) I have a couple of hours to myself. So I am hoping that I can manage a blog post here and there!

It's kind of a crazy schedule this year. Even though I have some time sans children it really isn't conducive to getting a lot done. (Although it is slowly preparing me for how quiet the house will be once they are both gone all day - audio books are filling the void very nicely!)

Grace gets to school at 8. Then, Charlotte and I have about three hours to "kill" until she has to eat lunch and get to school. After dropping Charlotte off around noon, I have about two hours (M, T TH & F) until I have to pick her up. Then the MADNESS begins!

Charlotte gets out at 2:45 - Grace at 2:50. Their schools are a 10 minute drive apart. Luckily, the teachers at Charlotte's school are awesome and knowing my predicament have being letting Charlotte out a few minutes early - which won't always be the case - but it sure helps! Once I have both kids safely buckled in their car seats, it is go time! Piano, soccer, tennis...I am quickly learning that every hour without kids during the day multiplies into about four hours of mayhem post-pickup. So for all you mothers (and fathers) out there thinking life will "change" once the kids are in school full time...I hate to burst your bubble...but life just gets crazier. Crazier meaning busier. Crazier sounds bad. Shall we say fuller?

All the activities take a lot of work and time but are worth it. To see your child score their very first soccer goal or for that matter not score any goals but are happy nonetheless just to be outside running around with new friends is priceless. It is life changing - for you AND your child. These seemingly small moments - each that have taken countless hours of practice and driving, behind the scenes snack and dinner prepping and sitting in the hot/cold/wind - they add up. They add up to a rich life - one that money can't buy, one that is funded only by love. These are busy years but ones I know I will miss all too soon.

We kicked off the school year with our annual back to school breakfast! We were anticipating a strike but luckily a timely agreement was reached. 

Aside from donuts, the girls each receive a few little treats...

The little journal is super fun! We do it before bed time each night as part of the bedtime routine. I think it will be fun to look back at how their opinions change and how their handwriting/vocabulary changes. Plus it works as a great transition to story time which is just one step closer to bedtime! 

The other book is substitute for a scrapbook. I wish, wish, wish I could pull together an awesome scrapbook filled with photos and tidbits but I can't. I save all the good stuff. School pictures, ticket stubs to plays, award certificates...it piles up! I wanted a spot where I could put all the good stuff - not just for this year but in the years to come. The School Years Record Book allows me to easily keep track of all the "good stuff" my kids bring home!

Grace was so excited for school to start. She marked off each day on her calendar and had a difficult time falling asleep for weeks before the first day. 

They were even treated to a trip to the nail salon!

Finally, the big day was upon us!

Obligatory first day photos...outfit, backpack and the MUST HAVE lunch box!

Charlotte started two weeks after Grace but was just as ready!

I love how the backpacks are bigger than the kid at this age! 

Charlotte is all about accessories. This outfit was chosen JUST so she could wear her doggy necklace from Grandma on the first day!

We forgot to hold up of "first day" sign at home. Luckily, the preschool had us covered! Charlotte was a bit under the weather the first few days of school so her smiles were a bit -shall we say - forced!?

Here she is - today - in the dress I made her for back to school! 

She has only four more days left as a four year old. 

We Made It…Kind of

Well, we survived the first full week of school! 

Charlotte had her first day of preschool and boy was she excited!

The only way I could get a picture showing her excitement was having them jump in place! Two seconds after this picture, I found a HUGE black widow spider about 12 inches away from me on the side of the house! Needless to say, it is no longer a threat and after a quick call to the "spider guy" to kill anything within a 10 mile radius with eight legs, I was told that this late summer/early fall season has been the WORST on record for black widow spiders. Schools, especially, have been spraying like crazy to keep them at bay. So word to the wise, be on the lookout! 

I don't know about you but I thought the back-to-school backpack selection this year was the pits. Anything that was cute and reasonably priced, sold out in July! Both girls starting new schools REQUIRES new back packs in my book and the ones I wanted were on back order until November. Who wants a new backpack in November?!?!? (I am talking to you Pottery Barn Kids! Shame, shame, shame on you!!) Eventually, I found one for Grace but no luck for Charlotte. So instead, I made her this one! It is a bit too small but she LOVES it and it will get her through until PBK hops to it and sends me the replacement. 

 Charlotte practically ran into the classroom. I had to call her back to give me a hug good bye! I swear I could drop her off two blocks away and she wouldn't think twice!

With both girls in school, I hit the gym for my favorite spinning class! 

The week also included piano lessons. The girls took the month of August off so it was the first lesson in a while. Charlotte moved up to the next level in gymnastics and I chopped all my hair off! No photos but me likey. It's been a while since my hairs has been this length and it is much more manageable. When I picked Grace up at school that afternoon, she was the last to be released. The teacher walked over to me and told me that Grace didn't recognize me and kept telling the teacher that she thought it was me, but that I must've gotten a hair cut. Grace, Charlotte and I now look like the bobbsey twins so that's "cool".  The week also included Grace's first soccer game and my first time coaching a soccer game. Other than one of the kids stepping in dog poop five seconds before game time, it went pretty well. Phew! 

In other news, Grace discovered her first loose tooth! 

(Bottom right!)

Can't believe she is about to lose her first tooth. I can remember her getting her first tooth like it was yesterday!

First teeth!

Needless to say, by Friday, I was pooped! 

The changing seasons always gets me and I spent the weekend sick as a dog. I managed one outing for a birthday party. Grace's friend at school has a younger sister Charlotte's age so they were both invited and both excited. 

It was a pop star party and the girls rocked it!

Unfortunately, the party "rocked" me.

Starting out the week a wee bit on the tired, want-to-crawl-back-under-the-covers-and-sleep-for-a year- side, but instead I decided to blog.

You are welcome sports fans!

June Sure Came and Went

It took a few days to get settled after being away. First and foremost, we were missing our fearless leader who was still in New Orleans. The girls and I were tired from our drive, the time change and two sleep (less) nights slumber-partying it in Mom's room. Court's flight home was delayed, cancelled, postponed BUT finally arrived 10 hours later than expected. As I was planning on picking him up from the airport, I cancelled the girls piano lesson. After receiving word that his plane was delayed, I tried to get piano lessons re-instated but it was too late. We went to the playground instead where I caught these two sharing a moment.

Nothing like a sister. 

I wish them a lifetime of these moments. 

The next day was t-ball. She's still a fan and was very, very excited to have Mana and Boppa in the crowd cheering her on!

Today also marked the day of living in our house for one year! Funny because it feels like we've lived at this address for much longer.

Nothing kicks off the harvest season like a trip to Bill's Berry Farm. Most people go to pick the fruit that is in season. 

We go for the donuts. 

Fresh. Still warm. SO good!

 

Finally got a baby gift finished and sent off! Good because the baby is due today or really soon!

Realized that some of our chickens are being bullied. So much so that a few are losing feathers. So I slathered on some anti-pecking lotion on a few of them. You know how pink and purple tips are pretty in right now (yes that is pink and purple hair…at the tips)? Well, these two are rocking' it hard!

Grace discovered jump roping about two weeks ago. Tonight, she jumped 30-something in a row!! She  jumps rope all. day. long. Which is great! Great exercise and all. But she wants us to watch AND COUNT every. single. attempt. Not ideal when trying to get anything done!

Sunday Funday! The girls got to watch a movie while Court and I cheered on Mexico in the World Cup. 

Even Grace and Charlotte got to be fancy!

Too bad Mexico lost to the Netherlands. 

Which leads me to today. My first time back in spin class in a loooong time. The girls first time in the gym daycare. We all survived.

Is tomorrow really July 1? Am I ever going to feel like time is on my side?

She Knocked My Socks Off!

Just a funny comment before I forget...

As I picked up Grace from school the other day her teacher told me that they had started assessments for parent conferences next month. "She knocked my socks off! She knew all her letter sounds, numbers...."

We got in the car and I said "Miss Grace I am so proud of you! Did you hear what you teacher said?"

"Mommy, I didn't knock her socks off. They stayed on the whole time."

Not much else to report unless you want to hear all about how we came home to a flooded garage a few weeks ago because a pipe burst. Fun times! Shortly after that,  our well pump stopped functioning properly. This is a problem because it randomly shuts off which in turn shuts off our water and eventually our heat pump. No water. No heat. No fun.

It has made for some cold, frustrating mornings. I am officially ready for summer.

Grace's 5th Snow Princess Winter Wonderland Birthday Party

With the crazy Christmas season finally behind us, I thought I'd pull together the pictures from Grace's 5th birthday party. There aren't many so here we go!

Grace chose a snow princess theme for her birthday party when we came across a winter princess doll in a toy store earlier this year. (I'm not gonna lie - I planted this idea as it was a theme that I felt I could pull off in crazy December!)

All fall, I'd been collecting princess-y, snowflake-y decor and it finally all came together to make a magical, winter wonderland!

Grace standing in front of the dessert table in her princess gown holding her new blue bunny…just what she wanted…from Grandma and Grandpa.

Her princess dress was made by me complete with a cape!

Here you can see a bit how the dress bustles! I used this pattern and I totally recommend buying it and making it. Had there been more time, I would have made one for Charlotte…but, as always, time was not on my side. 

The invitation…

encouraged that guests wear royal attired. I had a princess dress all lined up for Charlotte but she had other ideas. 

She was very strong willed about her attire for this party and this what she chose!

Next up - the decor!

I think I'll let the pictures do the talking!

The dessert table.

The cake….fit for a snow princess!

I hung snowflakes everywhere! It was a winter wonderland after all!

As we have had a very dry winter so far, we had to improvise on the snow outside.

Homemade crowns for each of royal guest.

Grace's year in pictures hung from a garland over the crowns. 

Just as the finishing touches were put on the decorations, guests started to arrive.

As I said earlier, I encouraged guests to wear princess attire and I figured the kids would jump at the chance to dressup. Much to my amazement, NOT ONE CHILD wore dress up clothes. I was amazed. While no kids showed up in ball gowns, one set of grandparents did!

Not was I was expecting, but Grace LOVED it!

All the kids were able to choose from a plethora of accessories to accent their non-existent princess outfits. Once they were decked out, there was just one thing missing. Shoes!!

I told the kids to look under the table but they couldn't find anything. (Tiny technical difficulty - Court had put the shoes I planted under each guest's seat away! I hadn't told him the plan! Oops!) After the shoes were re-planted, the kids realized that there was one shoe waiting for each royal guest under their chair. The missing "slipper" was hiding somewhere upstairs in the playroom! So off they went running to find their missing slippers!

Unfortunately, that concludes my photos from the party! 

My camera man, Uncle Johnny-roo, suffered a flat tire twenty minutes from my house.

Regardless, after a long, stressful tire changing evening, he managed to arrive in time for cake!

Speaking of cake, we did capture Grace blowing out her candles on video!

We were all pooped after the party!

 A big shout out to my sister, Molly, who once again saved the day in the food and organizational department and to Court, who just magically knew to do all the little things that I always forget!

It was a really fun birthday party! Unfortunately, it might be the last for awhile! We might take a birthday break for Grace next December. I absolutely love creating and making these parties for my girls and our extended family so never say never. December just isn't getting less busy/complicated as time goes on. We'll just have to see what happens!

If it was the last "big" birthday bash for a while, it was a good one to end on. Thank you to all our family who came from near and far or who was with in spirit.

Happy birthday Miss Grace!

Still can't believe you are five but so proud of you.